Synthesis of diester-based biolubricants from epoxides
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsStephen Joseph Miller, Zhen Zhou, Saleh A. Elomari
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to methods of making diester-based lubricant compositions, wherein formation of diester species proceeds via direct esterification of epoxide intermediates. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols) so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
Claims14
A process comprising:
- a) epoxidizing an olefin having a carbon number of from 6 to 36 to form an epoxide having an epoxide ring, wherein the olefin is first double bond isomerized from an α-olefin to an internal olefin using an olefin isomerization catalyst;
- and
- b) directly esterifying the epoxide with a C2 to C18 carboxylic acid to form a diester species having viscosity and pour point suitable for use as a lubricant or component thereof.
A process comprising:
- a) epoxidizing an olefin having a carbon number of from 6 to 36 to form an epoxide having an epoxide ring, wherein the olefin is first double bond isomerized from an α-olefin to an internal olefin in the presence of an olefin isomerization catalyst;
- and
- b) esterifying the epoxide with a C2 to C18 carboxylic acid, without first producing and isolating an intermediate diol species, so as to form a diester species having viscosity and pour point suitable for use as a lubricant or component thereof, wherein the step of esterifying is catalyzed by the presence of a catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.